65 Purchase of Land Adjacent to Yarrow Valley Country Park
To receive and consider the report of the Director of Planning and Development.
Decision:
To approve the purchase of land off Burgh Lane to encompass it into Yarrow Valley Country Park for the purpose of tree planting and habitat protection at a cost of £288,500 funded through borrowing.
Minutes:
Councillor Peter Wilson, Executive Member (Resources), presented the confidential report of the Director Planning and Development which seeks approval to purchase land off Burgh Lane adjacent to Yarrow Valley Country Park for the purposes of biodiversity net gain and to increase the land mass of the Country Park.
Decision:
To approve the purchase of land off Burgh Lane to encompass it into Yarrow Valley Country Park for the purpose of tree planting and habitat protection at a cost of £288,500 funded through borrowing.
Reasons for recommendation(s):
1. To increase the land mass of Yarrow Valley Country Park for benefits to the residents of Chorley and contribute to local nature recovery
2. To facilitate the planting of 13000 trees
3. To contribute to Biodiversity Net Gain and Carbon offsetting using Council land assets.
4. To ensure that this land is maintained and protected by Chorley Council for the long-term future.
Alternative options considered and rejected:
To not submit an offer to acquire the land and allow a developer or other landowner to purchase the land. This was rejected as Chorley Council own the land adjacent and already play a role in the management and maintenance of this land asset owing to the proximity of adjoining land, path linkages and access. Chorley Council can utilise this land resource to contribute to biodiversity net gain to offset future long-term development plans elsewhere in the Borough.